Research

Below is a list of research papers, reports and other publications from Ekklesia dating back to 2004. Click on the title for more information on each publication, and a link through to the item itself where available. You might also like to sign up for our award winning weekly research bulletin which will ensure you are kept up-to-date with the very latest research from Ekklesia.

The Children’s Society, Action for Children and NSPCC came together earlier in 2012 to commission joint research that calculates the impact of the recession and austerity measures on vulnerable children for the first time. This has been published as the attached report (*.PDF Adobe Acrobat), In the Eye of the Storm: Britain’s forgotten children and families. Ekklesia was not involved in the report’s production or commissioning, but we are pleased to promote and support its aims and findings. The research sets out to: (1) measure the number of families with children in Britain who are most vulnerable to adverse economic conditions, using a number of different definitions of ‘vulnerability’; and (2) estimate how these families will be affected over the next few years by the changes to tax and benefits, cuts to public services and the on-going effects of the post-2008 economic downturn.

Despite the fact that the Queen is Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Christianity’s relationship with monarchy is complex. This was highlighted in 2010, when the Anglican Bishop of Willesden, the Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, made critical comments on the announcement of the engagement of Prince William to Catherine Middleton. Bishop Broadbent declared on Facebook that he was a republican, called the Royal Family "philanderers" and said that the basis of the monarchy was "corrupt and sexist".

The Rt Rev Richard Chartres, the Anglican Bishop of London, said that he was "appalled" by Broadbent's comments and expressed his "dismay on behalf of the Church". There is however a strong tradition of Christian Republicanism in the UK: to ignore it would be to take a very narrow, limited view of Christianity.

The Jewish and Christian concept of Jubilee too – something which is about liberation for the poor - seems to sit awkwardly with an institution based on power and wealth. This discussion paper briefly explores some alternative perspectives on the Jubilee, and its legacy. It also links a some substantial previously published Ekklesia articles on monarchy, the subversive meaning of the kingdom of God and related issues.

Ekklesia is pleased to be among the NGOs endorsing and promoting the Children's Society's new research report, and the associated campaign on extending Free School Meals (FSMs) to all low income working families. The findings and recommendations of the report, published on 19 April 2012, are summarised here, as an introduction to the full document. The research was put together and written by Sam Royston, Laura Rodrigues and David Hounsell.

There is widespread concern that the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill currently going through Parliament threatens to make it much harder for people in poor countries to seek justice in British courts for human rights breaches by UK multinationals. This briefing explains the background to the issues, explains the current procedure and the nature of the changes being considered, and cites some specific cases which may be harmed by the present proposals.

Ekklesia welcomes a referendum on Scottish self-governance and the positive debate this can help create on the constitution, reformation and governance of the constituent nations and jurisdictions of what is presently designated the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In this document we outline the responses we have given to questions posed in the UK Government's consultation, which ended on 9 March 2012, concerning the authorisation, conduct, monitoring, content and timing of the referendum on Scottish independence. Our underlying view - based on the moral principles of subsidiarity - is that these matters should be shaped and determined by the people of Scotland under the auspices of their elected Parliament, in consultation with Westminster. Parallel comments have been made by Ekklesia to the Scottish Government's consultation on the referendum, ending on 11 May 2012.